Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's director was inspired by boredom to create what has become the highest-rated game of 2025. This article delves into the motivations behind the game's development and the formation of Sandfall Interactive.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Made Out of Boredom
Doing Something Different
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has swiftly become an instant classic, achieving the highest ratings in 2025 and selling over 1 million copies within just three days. Remarkably, this game-of-the-year contender originated from a sense of boredom and a desire to innovate.
In an interview with BBC News on May 4, the developers from Sandfall Interactive shared the story behind the game. Director Guillaume Broche explained that the project began as a way to combat his ennui. While working at Ubisoft during the peak of the 2020 pandemic, he felt restless and was inspired to develop a new game.
Influenced by his childhood favorite, the JRPG series Final Fantasy, Broche embarked on a journey to bring his vision to life, starting his search for collaborators on Reddit.
A Stroke of Luck
To realize his vision, Broche reached out to potential team members via Reddit and online forums. At the time, the idea of Expedition 33—a game inspired by the Belle Époque with classic turn-based gameplay—wasn't immediately popular. Nonetheless, Broche persisted, driven by his passion for the project.
Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, who was in lockdown in Australia, responded to one of Broche's posts on Reddit seeking voice actors. Intrigued by the opportunity, she said, "I was like: 'I've never done that, it sounds kinda cool', so I sent him an audition." Initially cast as a major character, she eventually became the lead writer for Expedition 33.
Broche left Ubisoft to focus entirely on Expedition 33, leading to the formation of Sandfall Interactive. With funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the team grew to about 30 members. Many, like composer Lorien Testard, were found through unconventional channels, such as posts on Soundcloud.
Thanks to Kepler Interactive's support, Sandfall Interactive was able to engage well-known actors, including Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI), Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate 3), and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings).
Despite the team's growth, both Broche and Svedberg-Yen had to take on multiple roles during the game's development. Svedberg-Yen, for example, also handled translations into different languages. Broche praised the team, saying, "We have, I think, an amazing team mostly of junior people but they are so incredibly invested in the project and talented."
The origins of Expedition 33 are as enchanting as the game itself. Driven by boredom and bolstered by luck, Sandfall Interactive has crafted a game that promises to captivate players for generations. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest updates on the game, click on the link below!
